All-time high at PATS Sandown

This year’s PATS Sandown experienced a record number of visitors, making it the biggest and busiest show in the event’s five-year history. A total of 1 847 retailers visited the show, representing an increase of 8 per cent on the number who attended PATS Sandown in 2012. Proceedings got off to a flying start on the first day, with a 9 per cent increase on the previous year’s attendance to 982 visitors. The total number of visitors even outstripped that of PATS Harrogate in September, which was itself a record-breaking event that had welcomed 1 813 visitors. Enthusiastic exhibitors According to the PATS organiser, the feeling from the 160 companies exhibiting was very positive, and this year’s show was the kind of boost the pet industry needed. Many of the comments by exhibitors that were included in the press release by the show organisers were full of praise for PATS. For example, Sallie-Ann King from Natures Menu summed up the feeling by saying: “We have not stopped talking to people during both days of the show. It has been brilliant. It’s our first time at Sandown and I can’t believe the amount of visitors we’ve had on our stand. It has been a great opportunity to speak to so many people. RAW food is very current and is interesting to a lot of people. We secured lots of business, including signing up a new export partner in Germany.” And Ray Foard from Rebellion enthused about the show too: “We’ve taken bigger orders today than ever before at PATS – two to three times bigger in fact. It’s by far our busiest show ever.” Virtually all the stands enjoyed a considerable footfall throughout the show. Although the second day began rather quietly, visitor numbers increased rapidly during the morning. New Products Awards PATS was the platform once again for a host of new products, with 140 entries in all for the New Products Showcase. These were judged by a jury of pet supplies retailers and the winners of the individual categories were presented at the show:
Category Aquatics and Reptiles: Mars Fishcare for its “API Pond Treatments”;
Category Bird: Bamfords Top Flight for “Cluckers Red Comb Superior Poultry Food”;
Category Cat: Gor Pets for “Scratch ‘n’ Roll”;
Category Dog: Barking Heads for “Bailey Bites”;
Category Grooming: Johnsons Veterinary Products for “Manuka Honey Shampoo”;
Category Pet Care: Dog Rocks for “PetproBio”;
Category Small Animals: Envirosmart for “Mini Cardboard Slot and Go”.
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